ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine widely deployed for scanning mail gateways, file servers and uploads. It is command-line and integration oriented rather than a consumer desktop suite, which makes it the natural pick for scripted or server-side scanning.
Why choose ClamAV?
ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine widely deployed for scanning mail gateways, file servers and uploads. It is command-line and integration oriented rather than a consumer desktop suite, which makes it the natural pick for scripted or server-side scanning.
ClamAV is open source, so the source code is public, the licence cannot be withdrawn, and no company can move it behind a paywall later. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and it comes from Cisco Talos rather than from a repackager — this page sends you to www.clamav.net, the publisher's own site, so what you install is the authentic signed build.
Worth comparing before you commit: ClamAV vs Avast Free Antivirus, ClamAV vs AVG AntiVirus Free, ClamAV vs Bitdefender Antivirus Free.
ClamAV features
- Fully open source
- Designed for mail and file server scanning
- Scriptable command-line interface
- Frequent signature database updates
How to download and install ClamAV on Windows
- Use the official source. The download button on this page opens www.clamav.net, the publisher's own site — that is the safe route. If you would rather we double-check the current link first, ask and we email it. Either way, never take a clamav download from a mirror or a "download manager" portal, which is where bundled adware comes from.
- Pick the build for your system. ClamAV runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. On Windows take the 64-bit package unless you are on an old 32-bit installation.
- Run the installer and accept the defaults. Cisco Talos ships no bundled extra software with it, so there is nothing to untick.
- Open it once before you need it. Confirming it launches and sees your files or hardware takes a minute now and saves a problem later.
- Keep it updated. Update from inside the program or from www.clamav.net — update prompts arriving by email or pop-up are not from the publisher.
Downloading ClamAV in India
ClamAV is the same software worldwide — there is no separate India build, no regional licence and nothing extra to pay. A clamav download in India gets the identical package everyone else receives, straight from www.clamav.net.
We link only to that official source, so a clamav setup download India from this page cannot arrive wrapped in a third-party installer. That matters more than download speed: the adware people blame on "free software" almost always comes from a mirror site, never from the publisher.
Is ClamAV really free?
Open Source. Source code is public; free to use, study and modify. You can download and use it without paying, and without creating an account with us.
How to download ClamAV safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for www.clamav.net — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic, digitally signed build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering ClamAV. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to ClamAV
Other free antivirus & security software worth comparing before you decide:
Avast Free Antivirus
Long-established free antivirus with real-time protection.
View detailsAVG AntiVirus Free
Lightweight free antivirus with web and email protection.
View details
Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Minimal-configuration antivirus with a top-rated engine.
View details
Malwarebytes Free
The standard second-opinion malware remover.
View detailsSee all ClamAV alternatives compared →
Compare ClamAV head-to-head
- ClamAV vs Avast Free Antivirus
- ClamAV vs AVG AntiVirus Free
- ClamAV vs Bitdefender Antivirus Free
- ClamAV vs Malwarebytes Free
Frequently asked questions
Is the ClamAV download free?
Yes. ClamAV is open-source software — free to download, use and keep, with no paid edition, no trial period and no feature held behind a key.
Is ClamAV safe to download?
It is, provided it comes from www.clamav.net — Cisco Talos's own site, which is where the link we send you points. We host no installer of our own and never repackage software. Nearly every "free software gave me a virus" story traces back to a third-party download portal rather than the publisher.
Which platforms does ClamAV run on?
ClamAV runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Take the build that matches your operating system; on Windows that means the 64-bit package unless you are running an old 32-bit installation.
Do I need an account to download ClamAV?
Not with us — FreeSoftwareX has no accounts, no paywall and no download gate. Ask for the link and we email it to you. Cisco Talos may ask you to register on their own site, which is their choice rather than ours.
What are the best free alternatives to ClamAV?
The closest free antivirus & security options are Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free. Each is listed here with its own licence, platforms and features so you can compare them properly rather than guessing.
Tell us what went wrong — a person reads every message and replies. Corrections to this page are treated as priority fixes.
People also search for
The terms visitors use to find this page. Each one lands here because it describes the same program.
Searches from India
ClamAV is identical worldwide — these are search phrasings, not different downloads. Every one of them gets the same official build from www.clamav.net.